President Obama announces on April 21st 2011 that he will seek re-election. Four days later, Dennis Kucinich announces that he will primary the President. By May, three other Democrats have joined Kucinich.

Mitt Romney holds a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, criticising the Tea Party movement:

"My fellow conservatives, the Tea Party movement is destroying the Republican Party. They obviously cost us the Senate last year. In 1994, we didn't need a Tea Party movement to win, and we certainly didn't need it in 2010. We have the most radical, idiotic left-wing administration in decades. The American people are not stupid. They know when the federal government has become too big and too bloated. They don't need an equally radical, idiotic right-wing fringe movement to shove it down their throats. My friends, I am a true Republican. The Tea Partiers belong in the Libertarian and Constitution Parties. They are not true Republicans. They are the mirror image of this administration.

"For Mitt Romney to say that you, the American people, are as idiotic as this administration is astonishing. Its no wonder the Republican Party rejected him in 1994, and 2008. His "Romneycare" is nothing more then "Obamacare". Mitt Romney is not a challenger to me-he is a Democratic challenger to Barrack Obama-running on the wrong party"

Bill O'Reilly slams Mitt Romney about his comments on the Tea Party...

"Mitt Romney, the former Governor of the great great great state of Massachusetts says that the Tea Party is quote "destroying the Republican Party" and that the Tea Party quote "Cost us the election in 2010." Mr. Romney, with all due respect, if you honestly believe you can win any primary states with that kind of attitude, you're in for a rude awakening."

After spending a considerable amount of time in Iowa and South Carolina in the early months of 2011, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann made a special announcement at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa, the town she was born in.

Quote

...Now is a dark time in our nation; we have a socialist running our nation, the economy continues to remain stagnated, and the size of government is increasing. It is absolutely vital to the future of our nation that President Barack Hussein Obama is not reelected.

I have already pledged to do my part to make sure he is not reelected. However, with the current slate of prospective candidates, I donít believe any hold the strong, conservative credentials and leadership qualities needed to face Obama in the general election. Today, Iím ready to take another step in my campaign to put a conservative back in the White House.

Today, Iím formally announcing my candidacy for the Republican Nomination for President of the United States. I believe I have the experience, conservatism, and Tea Party credentials we need in our next Commander-In-Chief. I look forward to spending the next monthís meeting with concerned Americans, worried about the socialist path our nation is facing. Now is the time for real leadership. Now is the time to elect Michele Bachmann as your next President! Thank you all, and God Bless you all! God Bless America!

After announcing her candidacy for President, Congresswoman Bachmann outlined her schedule for the first seven days in July. All seven days will be spent in Iowa, where the Congresswoman hopes to perform strong. She has planned stops in almost every major city.

On July 4th, Michele Bachmann spent the day celebrating America's Independence in Des Moines, Iowa. While in the state capital, Michele Bachmann walked in the Independence Day Parade, mingled with the crowd, and held a rally. The evening concluded with a fireworks display, put on by the city with a generous donation from Ms. Bachmann herself.

On our great nation's Independence Day, we must celebrate the wonderful history our nation has! Over two centuries ago, our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Not long after that, many of those same fathers helped write our Constitution. The brave men and women who have fought for our country since the start should be commended and thanked on this day for giving us the freedoms we have.

It's especially crucial, good Iowans, that we make sure that the very freedoms our founding fathers fought so hard for our preserved to this day. We live in a great nation, but some of the values that we've had since the start are being compromised by our President. The size of our government continues to spiral out of control, and there seems to be little emphasis from this administration on saving jobs, as well as creating new ones. There seems to be little interest in this administration in preserving the moral values of this country, and fighting for the life of the unborn! It's time the changes our nation so desperately need do occur, and as soon as possible. I'm running for President to give us those changes. On this day, thank a soldier, remember your freedoms, and fight to make sure our Constitution is not destroyed by this administration!- Michele Bachmann, rallying in Des Moine, Iowa

Analysis: With Congresswoman Bachmann leading in the early primary state of Iowa, she is closer to the nomination than some may have ever expected. While she is only 4 points ahead of Ron Paul, a lead is a lead more or less.

On July 5th, Michele Bachmann made an appearance on FOX News with Greta Van Susteren. At one point in the interview, Michele Bachmann was asked about her experience, and whether or not she is qualified to be President.

I've held political office now for over a decade. The most important qualification I want in a President is someone who fully understands that the system right now in Washington is broken. In the past few years, I've learned that as a Congresswoman. I have a solid conservative voting record, and have long been a leading vote for the conservative and Tea Party movement. I firmly believe that I am very well qualified to be President, through experiences within public service and outside of it as well.- Michele Bachmann

In late July, Michele Bachmann officially laid the groundwork for her campaign in New Hampshire, Michigan, Nevada, and South Carolina.

At the beginning of this campaign, we had a heavy focus on Iowa, where we hoped the momentum from winning it would give us enough momentum to be competitive in the remaining leadoff states, and then a strong performance on Super Tuesday. Now that we're polling strong in Iowa, we feel confident that we can run the table in the leadoff states, and head into Super Tuesday as the presumptive nominee. Whether Ms. Bachmann wins or not, our campaign sincerely hopes for this to be a quick and non-controversial primary so we can have plenty of time to prepare facing off against President Obama in the fall.- Bachmann campaign strategist

Following a PPP poll showing Bachmann leading in New Hampshire, Bachmann places a call to one of her top campaign strategists, Ben McMurray, in which they jointly decide to hold several rallies across the state of New Hampshire.

What we need in our GOP nominee is a true conservative, a Tea Party candidate. Someone who will provide a stark contrast to the liberal policies of Barack Obama, not someone who has implemented the same health care policies as Governor! With Republican majorities in Congress, one of the first things I will do if elected is repeal Obamacare, and get it out once and for all! Let's reign in government spending and put the power back in the hands of the people!- Bachmann, at a rally in Concord

At a New Hampshire rally"What America cant afford right now, is my colleague, Representative Bachman. While she dutifully represents her constituents, she can not lead the nation. She claims to be the candidate of the Tea Party. But the Tea Party has been hijacked by the religious right. It is time we stop focusing on trivial issues like Gay Marridge, and focus on the crushing debt that is crippling our economy".

The attacks by my good friend from Texas, Congressman Paul, are disappointing, to say the least. When he cites a speech I've made on this campaign trail focusing on gay marriage, I'll rescind this statement. My campaign has been focused on lowering government control and spending, as well as repealing Obamacare, issues I'm sure Mr. Paul agrees with me on. It's time America has a leader with integrity and honesty, not one who will throw our below-the-belt attacks the second he or she fears of losing. - Michele Bachmann, responding to Paul at a press conference in Michigan

In late July, Michele Bachmann made an appearence at a fundraiser at the NBRA (National Black Republican Association).

I humbly ask for the support and help of this great body. I love this nation. What I don't love, however, is the spiraling path we're taking towards socialism, and that's why I'm running for President.

It's vital that our nation continues it's social progress. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a huge step for African-Americans, I believe. Unfortunately, not all of my opponents think the same thing, specifically Doctor Paul. On June 4th, 2004, when Congress was hailing the CRA's passage, Dr. Paul said, and was quoted saying"the Civil Rights Act of 1964 not only violated the Constitution and reduced individual liberty; it also failed to achieve its stated goals of promoting racial harmony and a color-blind society." In our Constitution, it states that, all men are created equal. Doctor Paul, I'm sure, knows that. Yet he's criticizing legislation that honored the Constitution and gave blacks the same rights as whites. A disappointing statement, to say the least, by Congressman Paul.

"Mrs. Bachmans recent attacks on me highlight her ignorance, of the situation and shows how far she will go to divide the American people for personal gain. Those quotes are true, I said them. The Civil Rights Act did trample individual Liberty. Race relations are a natural process. In some countries, nature does little to change them. The wars of Yugoslavia, are a example. One day peace will come. Look at our President, Barrack Obama. In 1970, after the CRA had been passed, did people think a African American President was possible? Some said yes, and some said no. The advancement of African Americans shows the willpower, determination, compassion, and unity that define the United States of America".

America, we can not afford four more years of an Obama Presidency. We need a person that can lead, a proven leader who has had executive leadership not a person that makes loud speeches on the House Floor or a person who calls "change" a nine percent unemployment rate. If we are to win, we most show our country that the Republican Party to take the baton and appeal to all Americans- liberal, conservative, or independent. Our country need new leadership and I am the person ready to lead!

Congresswoman Bachmann will spend the week touring the state of South Carolina, where she hopes her conservative credentials will give her a solid win on election night. She has also began running ads in all leadoff states.

(The ad opens with an image of a woman walking with her son to school.)

WOMAN: Tommy was afraid to walk to school. I didnít know what to do and I was desperate. In my desperation, I started making calls. Before I knew it, Congresswoman Bachmann called me back. She worked together with the school district, and today the school and the street leading to it are safer than ever before. Iím voting for Ms. Bachmann because she understood what we needed, and she went to work for someone like me.

(The scene shifts and shows a truck driver speaking as he walks to his truck.)

MAN: I had been out of work for a year and I couldnít get access to any training funds to help. I had been out of work for a year and nobody was willing to help. I went to one of Michele's town hall events and told my story. I was getting ready to leave, and someone told me the Congresswoman wanted to see me. The next day, I was told that funding for driving school had been found. Iím voting for Ms. Bachmann because, when the chips were down, she didnít forget about someone like me.

(The scene shifts and shows a young female teacher in the classroom.)

YOUNG WOMAN: Over the last six months, weíve paid more for our health care than ever before. During that time, my husband lost his job and weíve seen our benefits cut in half. Without being prompted, my Congresswoman visited our classroom and talked with the other teachers and I about what he was doing to fight for education, and for the benefits we had earned. Why am I voting for Michele Bachmann? Because she understands the lives and the challenges of someone like me.

(The scene shifts and shows Michele Bachmannlooking into the camera.)

BACHMANN: My name's Michele Bachmann, and I approve this message, because I believe it's time for this nation to stop going down the socialist path we're currently being led down. The issues Iíve talked about in this campaign are more than campaign rhetoric Ė they come out of my own experience. Iím the proud daughter of middle class parents and the life Iíve lived is a testament to the American dream, a dream I want to fight to make available to everyone who is willing to work hard and play by the rules. Your story is my story, and if you agree with me, then I would be honored to have your support.

If we are to win in November we cannot get away with nominating someone without executive experience. Look at the last three presidents to unseat incumbents- Clinton, Reagan, and Carter- all of them were governors. We must steer away the party from nutballs that say Obama wasn't born in the US and actually focus on issues Americans care about!!!

Daniels also announced that he will visit New Hampshire, Iowa, California, Oregon, New York, and Florida in the next two weeks to drum up support for his bid.